Conor Masterson scored what proved to be the match-winner on his return to the starting XI as Gillingham beat promotion-chasing Bradford City 1-0 at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
The only goal of the game came in the 56th minute. Max Clark’s corner directed towards Andy Smith at the near post just missed the head of the defender before dropping perfectly to Masterson. He did well to turn his marker before thumping a low drive into the back of the net.
John Coleman made two changes to the starting XI that lost at Newport County in midweek. Masterson and Oli Hawkins came into the lineup, as Max Ehmer and Elliott Nevitt were dropped to the bench.
Jacob Wakeling, Dom Corness and Jonny Williams were named among the substitutes. Former Gill George Lapslie was in Bradford City’s starting XI.
Jack Shepherd had the first opportunity of the game. Richie Smallwood delivered a free-kick to the right of the penalty area into the box, which Shepherd met at the back post. However, he could not keep his attempt down and it floated over the crossbar.
In the ninth minute, Tommy Leigh had a great chance. Jamie Walker won possession midway inside the Gillingham half before playing the ball in behind for Leigh to latch onto. The forward tried to prod it beyond the oncoming Glenn Morris, but the Gills goalkeeper was equal to it.
Armani Little came close on 25 minutes. The hosts won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area when Joe Gbode was brought down. The ball was positioned to the left of the centre as Little curled goalward. He got his attempt over the wall but could not get it down as it went over the target.
Lapslie nearly gave the visitors the lead. Jamie Walker’s corner was kept alive before being headed towards the six-yard box. The former Gills man peeled away from his marker before hooking the ball past Morris. Fortunately, Armani Little was on the line to clear away, as Gillingham had a huge let-off.
Gills applied pressure on the Bradford penalty area and had a couple of half-chances in a matter of seconds. The first fell to Robbie McKenzie, as the ball sat up perfectly for him to strike a first-time volley. However, his attempt was well blocked. The hosts regained possession before Sam Gale took hold of the ball 30 yards from the goal and tried his luck. His effort was low-driven and central as Sam Walker got down to comfortably gather.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Bradford City
Leigh tried lobbing Morris in the opening minutes of the second period. A long ball bounced favourably for the Bradford forward, who tried looping his effort goalward. Fortunately, his attempt landed on the roof of the net, leaving a back-pedalling Morris untroubled.
In the 56th minute, Masterson fired Gillingham in front. Max Clark’s corner just missed the head of Smith but dropped perfectly to Masterson inside the penalty area. The defender did well to get the ball out of his feet before drilling a low drive past Sam Walker and into the back of the net.
On 63 minutes, Nevitt came on to replace Hawkins.
Nelson Khumbeni was introduced a few minutes later, coming on for Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
Gills continued to cause Bradford issues from set pieces, as another Clark corner caused chaos. Two players tumbled down inside the box before it dropped to Gbode, who could not get the ball out of his feet as he tried to turn and shoot before it went out of play.
Gbode did brilliantly to create an opportunity with ten minutes remaining. He received the ball just inside the Gills half before quickly turning his defender and using his blistering pace to get forward. The striker carried it into the Bradford penalty area before shooting towards the near post, but the incoming pressure from a defender took the impact off the shot, as Walker got down to make the save.
In the 86th minute, Gills made a double substitution with their final window, as Ehmer and Jonny Williams replaced Masterson and McKenzie.
Khumbeni tried his luck with a first-time effort from around 20 yards. Jonny Williams drove forward before being tackled, but the loose ball came to Khumbeni. The midfielder struck it first time, shooting wide of the target.
There were seven minutes of additional time as the visitors searched for an equaliser. They applied pressure on the Gillingham penalty area but failed to test Morris, as the hosts defended their box valiantly to earn a crucial three points.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 1-0 Bradford City
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Smith, Masterson (Ehmer 86’), Gale, Clark, McKenzie (J. Williams 86’), Little, Morgan (Khumbeni 69’), Gbode, Hawkins (Nevitt 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Corness, Wakeling
Bradford City: S. Walker, Halliday (Johnson 86’), Smallwood, J. Walker (Kavanagh 72’), Khela (Byrne 61’), Baldwin, Huntington, Shepherd, Lapslie (Wright 72’), Leigh (Mellon 60’), Adaramola
Unused Substitutes: Hilton, Crichlow
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 6297 (844 away fans)
